Vietnam to create elephant hospital

Hanoi - Vietnam plans to build an elephant hospital as part of a new reservation for the animals in the country's central highlands, a government official said Wednesday. Y Rit Buon Ya, deputy director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in the province of Dak Lak, said the project would be developed between 2010-14.

"We have not had doctors with enough knowledge and experience to take care of elephants when they are hurt. So when they are hurt, people don't know what to do," Ya said. "That is why we want to build a hospital for elephants."

Ya estimated the initial cost of the elephant reserve at about 320,000 dollars, to be provided by the government and foreign donors. Veterinarians would need to be trained in countries with expertise in treating elephants.

Thailand and Sri Lanka have had elephant treatment clinics for years, but the clinic in Dak Lak would be the first in Vietnam.

At a workshop on elephant preservation held Tuesday, experts said there were 80 to 110 wild elephants, and 61 captive ones, surviving in Dak Lak. They are endangered by illegal hunting and deforestation.

Vietnamese media has reported several cases of elephants attacking humans in recent years. Elephants become more aggressive when their habitat shrinks.

In January, 10 elephants charged villagers in Ha Tinh province, without causing injuries. In July 2008, a herd of 40 elephants destroyed several houses in Dak Lak.

In August 2007, a forest warden was left paralyzed after his neck was broken in an elephant attack.

Scientists at the workshop said if elephants' territory could be protected from human encroachment and poachers, the population would likely recover naturally.